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Mar 27
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The Art of Finishing Well

By Christian Living, Discipleship, Holiness, Righteousness No Comments

The year was 1949. CIA operative Douglas Mackiernan fled for the border of Tibet as Mao Tse-Sung’s communist army swept through China. Though the national boundary was a treacherous 1200 miles away, getting there was the only hope for survival. For seven months he endured the elements. First, he needed to cross the desert. Going without water for three days at one point left Doug and his companions nearly dead. A seeping spring saved their lives.

Next, Mackiernan faced the Himalayas in the dead of winter. While traversing the jagged terrain at 16,000 feet, the air was so thin and cold that speaking was simply too painful. Speaking only through hand signals, Doug and his comrades pressed on. The piercing winds threatened frostbite. Mounds of snow obscured the path. Losing his horse made the trek more difficult. But Mackiernan pressed on, never veering too far off the centuries old path marked by large piles of stone.

What were these mounds? They were above ground tombs for those who endeavored to make the arduous journey before. With the ground frozen solid beneath them, local residents did not attempt to dig graves. They simply pulled the deceased to one side of the trial and heaped piles of rocks over their bodies. These markers to the left and right of the path formed a natural map for those brave enough to keep pressing forward. Each grave was a visible reminder that despite your progress along the trail you could not let your guard down until you finished.

The same is true for Christians today. No matter how long we serve the Lord, how faithful we’ve been, or how much distance we’ve covered, we can never let our guard down until we get to heaven. Finishing the race of faith well is much more important than how we begin. As we age and mature in our walks with God our temptations may change, but they never go away. Remaining faithful to the Lord until the very end requires much discipline and intentionality.

For as long as I can remember the Old Testament character Gideon has fascinated me. Living during one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of Israel, some might refer to this unassuming man as a coward. The first time we meet him he is hiding in a winepress from Israel’s oppressors, the Midianites (Judges 6:11). Through a dramatic turn of events, God empowered Gideon to confront the false prophets of his nation and defeat the enemies’ army (Judges 6-8). His acts were heroic, and his humility was refreshing.

When it was all over, Gideon was so popular that his countrymen attempted to make him king over Israel (Judges 8:22). The honor was misguided, though, because at this point in their history God was the only King over His chosen people. Thankfully, Gideon resisted the opportunity, at least with his words (Judges 8:23). Forty years of peace ensued as the entire nation reaped the rewards of faithfulness.

I wish the story ended there. Yet, as a testimony of its veracity, the Bible reveals that that Gideon’s practice did not mirror his profession. He divided the spoils from war like a king (Judges 8:24-26). He took multiple wives and concubines for himself, just like a king (Judges 8:29-32). He even named his son Abimelech, which means my father is king (Judges 8:31). In other words, despite what he said, Gideon lived as if he was king in Israel. God’s faithful servant stumbled at the finish line and, consequently, led the nation back to the same apostacy he worked so hard to overcome (Judges 8:33).

Unfortunately, this biblical plot is often far more common than we care to admit. Do you remember Douglas Mackiernan? After seven months he finally made it to the Tibetan border. The week prior he radioed the US embassy requesting that they inform border guards of his arrival. When he was finally close enough to see the crossing between the two nations, Doug’s exhaustion turned to joy and he began running ferociously toward freedom. When he was only 100 yards away, tragedy struck as shots rang out.

Doug Mackiernan was hit, and he fell dead on the path. The guards never received his message, and they mistook him for a renegade bandit. Soon, they pulled his body to the side of trail and covered it with stones. The man who labored a lifetime for his country became another boundary on the path. His ending was a tragic warning for those that followed in search of freedom (Adapted from Steve Farrar, Gettin’ There, 118).

Chances are you have heard a similar story. Maybe about a man who lived with integrity for most of his life, until he didn’t. Or a woman who was the epitome of faithfulness, until she wasn’t. Stumbling at the finish line is so familiar that we all have examples to share of families ruined, relationships broken, lives scarred, and faith shattered. We know far too well the devastation that comes when we don’t finish well.

So, let’s learn from the mistakes of those who admonish us through their pain. You and I do not have to be another spiritual casualty in the kingdom of God if we will heed the warnings of those whose mistakes instruct us. The freedom we find in Christ will be worth the discipline finishing well requires.

Adam B. Dooley
March 27, 2025

Nov 29
Love0

The Danger of False Positives

By Christian Living, Discipleship, Faithfulness, Grace, Liberalism, Peace, Pluralism, Truth, Uncategorized No Comments

Though it’s been several years ago now, I still remember one of the more exciting trips to St. Jude Hospital with my son during his battle with childhood leukemia. Back in those days we lived in Mobile, Alabama, requiring us to fly for weekly chemotherapy in Memphis. Over a three-year period, we made 128 consecutive trips in order to jumpstart and protect my son’s remission from cancer.

While passing through security on our return trip, a Ziploc bag containing a bottle of medication tested positive for a small amount of glycerin, which can be used to make explosives. Quickly, TSA workers surrounded us with a bomb sniffing dog. They pulled us aside and began a battery of tests. Thankfully, our faces were familiar and employees recognized us. My son’s glistening, bald head gave away our recent trip to the hospital

Still, it was only after several minutes of awkward suspicion and investigation that we were allowed to pass through the security checkpoint. Turns out it was a false positive caused by a melting icepack that was cooling the medication. The whole ordeal got me to thinking about the misleading consequences of false impressions, which can leave us happy or scared depending on what they report.

For example, you might be overjoyed initially only to be disappointed later if a pregnancy test falsely reveals that the child you’ve prayed for is on the way. Or, you might be immediately frightened when airport security suspects foul play as you travel, even if you are able to laugh about it afterward. The problem, though, is that neither reaction is trustworthy. False positives are dangerous because they invite us to live outside of reality based upon something that is not true.

Unfortunately, American Christianity has its share of false positives. Many Bible teachers are anxious to assure their listeners that God’s primary goal is our personal happiness. Others insist that hell cannot be real because a loving God would never allow anyone to go there. Notions of remaining in sin while following Jesus is the most damning false positive of all. These untruthful assertions are usually received with enthusiasm, but they create a false narrative about WHO Jesus is and WHAT He came to do.

The historical reality that God would sacrifice His Son to deal with our sin problem is insulting to some and downright barbaric to others. Retired Methodist theologian, William Willimon, fairly critiqued, “If you listen to much of our preaching, you get the impression that Jesus was some sort of itinerant therapist who, for free, traveled about helping people feel better.”

Thankfully, Jesus had a way of turning our temporal ambitions on their head in order to focus on what we really need. Take, for example, the familiar story of Jesus healing the paralytic (Matt. 9:1-8). Without question, this man’s burdens were significant. He could not walk, eat, or bathe without the help of others and, by consequence, he was an outcast in society. We can hardly blame his friends for attempting to help him.

Rather than heal the man immediately, though, Jesus said to him, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven (Matt. 9:2).” By doing so, Jesus reminded us that our temporal burdens are merely symptoms of our greatest needs. He is not a Savior who came to improve the quality of our lives (though He often does), but who came to forgive our sins. Yet, popular false positives deceive us into believing that God solving our earthly problems is more important than His addressing our eternal condition.

Because the scribes accused Jesus of blasphemy (Matt. 9:3), He immediately exposed their blindness with a piercing question. Is it easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Get up, and walk (Matt. 9:5)?” Amazingly, Jesus chose to heal the paralytic in order to demonstrate His authority to forgive sins, not distract from it (Matt. 9:6). The real goal was much bigger than the man’s physical healing. In fact, had Jesus only forgiven the paralytic’s transgressions it would have solved his greatest threat.

I am not suggesting that we should not seek God’s intervention when trials come. During my son’s fight against cancer, I repeatedly begged the Lord to heal him. Yet, we often equate our present comforts as an indicator of our eternal health. Our desperation for temporary relief from earthly troubles often far exceeds our concern about spiritual matters. Even worse, we sometimes reduce God’s faithfulness to His meeting our immediate needs.

God, show me a miracle and prove you’re real.

God, answer this prayer and prove you’re real.

God, give me what I want and prove you’re real.

God, heal me and prove you’re real.

God, open this door and prove you’re real

Tragically, expressions of temporary grace often grip us more than eternal realities. Our need for forgiveness, though, is so urgent that we ought to be willing to lose this life entirely in order to receive it from Christ (Matt. 16:24-27). Nothing is more necessary, and nothing is more remarkable than the glorious truth that Jesus would come to seek and to save the lost!

Adam B. Dooley
November 29, 2024

Nov 19
Love0

Our Common Problem

By Christian Living, Discipleship, Faithfulness, Grace, Peace, Sanctification, Sin, Uncategorized No Comments

The small town of Centralia, Pennsylvania, is dying. Literally. A place that used to be home to over 1,000 residents reported a population of just five people in the 2020 census. But why are people fleeing the quaint community? For years the town has been home to several underground coal mines. Unexpectedly, in 1962, a fire began in one of those mines that is still aflame today. Beneath the surface, a hidden inferno is still consuming a particularly slow-burning type of coal that experts expect to simmer for another 250 years! Both the depth and the heat of the fire make it impossible to put out.

As a result, there are hot spots, buckled highways, and parched grass. Most of the buildings in Centralia have already collapsed. Residents permitted to stay are under a court order not to pass their property down to the next generation. The fire and gases are destroying everything good about the hidden borough three hours west of New York City.

Temptation is like that. Deep within all of us at an unseen level there is a burning desire to rebel against God. The fires of enticement want to consume everything good and holy in your life, sometimes even resulting in an abandoned walk with God. No matter how hard we try, the fires of temptation will burn throughout the entirety of our lives.

Most people respond to temptation in one of three ways. Some will just give in to it and reason, “If it feels good do it!” Others will fight hard against it but repeatedly lose the battle. These are those who yield to sin, feel guilty for doing so, and vow to never succumb again, only to renege hours or days later. But some will overcome temptation by the grace of Jesus Christ. Obviously, most want to be in the latter category. But how do we get there? Let me suggest three realities about temptation we must recognize in order to be victorious.

YOU WILL ENCOUNTER TEMPTATION

The Bible says in 1 Cor. 10:13a: No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. That means all people everywhere will face temptation. We need to admit that none of us are exempt from the allurement of sin. Furthermore, temptation in and of itself is not sinful if we do not yield to it.

• Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden of Eden.
• Israel was tempted in the wilderness.
• David was tempted in the palace.
• Peter was tempted in Jerusalem.
• Even Jesus was tempted in the desert.

The commonness of temptation also means that our allurements are not unique. Regardless of how we feel, there is nothing new under the sun. You are not the only person who in the history of the world who has struggled with whatever is seducing your heart.

GOD CALLS EACH OF US TO ENDURE TEMPTATION

The Bible goes on to say that God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it (1 Cor. 10:13b). We often mistakenly assume that those who do not give into temptation know nothing of its power. The opposite is really true. Those who surrender to temptation the most actually know the least about the full burden and challenge it brings. We yield to what pulls our heart away from God because of the desire to find relief from our struggle. When we resist, though, the battle persists with annoyances that do not go away. Yet, this is the narrow road God calls believers to walk. We won’t always succeed in our efforts, but victory rather than defeat should be the pattern of our lives.

YOU CAN ESCAPE TEMPTATION

If we are to endure in faith, we should always be looking for the way escape when we are tempted. The idea is not the God will help us to avoid temptations, but that He will walk with us through them, helping us to persevere. Sometimes we give the false impression that if a Christian loves God, all their previous worldly inclinations will immediately disappear. While some experience that kind of dramatic deliverance, what is more common is the daily battle to resist lifestyles that on contrary to God’s design.

The way of escape is trusting God who promises to help us overcome. It means allowing the Lord, not the culture, to define right and wrong for us. It means that sometimes we run away from people, situations, or circumstances that cause us to stumble. It means we proactively fill our minds with Scripture, remind ourselves of the gospel, and seek the Lord in prayer. It means that we recall how vulnerable we are and continually pledge our hearts to Christ. The question is not will God provide a way of escape to prevent our waywardness, but will we be looking for it instead?

Adam B. Dooley
November 19, 2024

Nov 13
Love0

Passing the Gospel Baton

By Discipleship, Evangelism, Sanctification No Comments

Chances are you’ve never heard of Ed. Years ago he paced back and forth outside of Holton’s Shoe Store in Boston. The reason for his angst was the 18-year-old store clerk who worked inside that had been attending his Sunday School Class. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Ed felt compelled to share his faith with the young man. His doubts, however, ravaged his good intentions with uncertainty.

What if he won’t listen to me?
What if he finds me pushy?
What if he throws me out?

Any serious Christian can relate to fears like these. Sharing our faith with others can be one of the more intimidating disciplines of Christianity. Thankfully, Ed mustered up his courage, walked into the store and declared, “I have come to tell you how much Christ loves you.” The two men talked for several minutes before, in a moment of commitment, the young man kneeled in prayer as he called out to Christ for salvation.

Ed Kimball never preached the gospel to millions, but his efforts to be faithful in that single moment left a profound legacy on the world. That teenage store clerk, you see, was an impressionable D.L. Moody, who went on to become the 19th century’s most influential evangelist and founder of the Moody Church, Moody Bible Institute, and Moody Press in Chicago. His ministry also influenced a soon to be Presbyterian minister, J. Wilbur Chapman, who joined Moody in guiding a professional baseball player named Billy Sunday to pursue the calling as well.

Sunday’s preaching in Charlotte, North Carolina was so powerful in 1924 that the Charlotte Businessman’s Club was born. Ten year later, the same organization invited a minister named Mordecai Ham to preach revival services, resulting in another impressionable 18-year-old’s conversion to Christ and calling to ministry. His name? Billy Graham.

Can you imagine how different the world would be if Ed Kimball never found the courage to entrust the gospel to that young shoe clerk in Boston? A single, unknown believer touched the world for Christ simply because of his willingness to share with others what he received from the Lord. Believers today share the same charge as Christ commissions us to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19-20).

The Apostle Paul echoes the same theme as he writes to Timothy, his protégé in the ministry. “The things you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who are able to teach others also (2 Tim. 2:2).” The clear priority here is making sure that the gospel passes from one generation to the next. Thus, discipleship is not a ministry of the church, but THE MINISTRY of the church. As God strengthens us with His grace, we should work heard to empower others with same gospel.

So where should we begin?

First, the priority of a soldier invites us. Using the illustration of a soldier, Scripture beckons us to be willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel (2 Tim. 2:3). Think about the tremendous sacrifices those who don their country’s uniform face. They endure harsh conditions away from the people they love, all while putting their lives at risk. Thus, if we are serious about making disciples, we must accept that the work will be difficult.

To stay on task, we should always remember that a good soldier serves with the single purpose of pleasing his commanding officer (2 Tim. 2:3). In a similar way, our goal should never be to please men, but God who examines our hearts (1 Thess. 2:4). Doing so requires avoiding worldly entanglements that distract us from our primary mission of stewarding the gospel well.

Second, the precision of an athlete inspires us. Turning to the world of athletics, Paul next emphasizes the need to play by the rules if we are to succeed in God’s mission. Like an athlete battling for a prize, we must compete according to the rules (2 Tim. 2:5). True competitors familiarize themselves with the agreed standards of play through diligent study and repetitious practice. Likewise, Christians must pursue godliness through reading and obeying Holy Scripture. Versions of Christianity that undermine or contradict the Bible may appeal to many, but they are anything but Christian. Cutting biblical corners will disqualify even those with the best of intentions from serving the Lord.

Third, the patience of a farmer instructs us. In what may be my favorite example of all, Scripture reminds us that making disciples is only possible when you realize that doing so requires the patience of farmer working a field (2 Tim. 2:6). Just think about how much forbearance bringing in an abundant harvest requires. The farmer must wait for winter to end. He plows and plants, then he waits some more. He waters the seed, and then waits. He covers the crops when the frost comes, and then he waits. He waits knowing how the season works. He waits believing that the harvest will come. And He waits trusting that his hard work will pay off.

Then, one day, the harvest does indeed come in and, in that moment, the sacrifice of waiting is well worth it. Before the farmer’s food feeds your family, it covers his table. Before his cotton covers your back, it fills his closet. His vegetables will occupy jars in his cupboard before they line the shelves of your pantry in cans. The meat from his livestock will load his freezer before it replenishes yours. And rightly so, because the hardworking farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.

So, let’s keep making disciples. Let’s keep the main thing the main thing. No matter how much you sacrifice, no matter how long it takes, and no matter how long you must wait, you’ll be glad that you did.

Adam B. Dooley
November 14, 2024

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